Trip Highlights

Build a new water-supply system to help with sustainable crop growth and teach local children how they can help protect their environment.

Encounter amazing wildlife on safari in three parks.

Community Service Projects

On this program, students will spend an estimated 35–40 hours on community service projects. At the end of the program, students will receive a certificate stating the number of service hours completed. Projects described in this itinerary are examples and vary depending on the needs of the community.

Itinerary

15 Days

Tanzania is home to fantastically rich wildlife and fascinating cultures like the Maasai. Yet rural life remains simple, and basic infrastructure is still being developed. Settle into a village and work on conservation projects that promote sustainable development, helping to preserve the local environment while improving daily life for residents. Cap off the trip on safari, exploring creative ways to protect the wildlife you encounter.

Community Service Village

Days 1-8

Our home in Tanzania is a small agricultural village in the lush hills below Mount Meru. We’ll split into small groups and spend our days working with the village residents on a variety of community-initiated projects. Construct a new water-storage tank to aid in irrigation and sustainable crop growth during the dry season. Volunteer at the village primary school or a nearby orphanage, teaching children the importance of protecting the planet. Roll up your sleeves to plant and harvest at a family farm, and interview your hosts about how they’re adapting to a changing climate. Spend a day in Arusha National Park and hear from a ranger about challenges that arise when wildlife encroaches on village life. Propose creative conservation solutions for protecting wildlife from poachers, or strategies for reducing conflict between domesticated and wild animals.

In the late afternoons, get into the rhythm of village life. Play soccer with local kids, shop for dinner at an outdoor market, or write in your journal with views of Kilimanjaro in the distance. Meet with students training for careers in wildlife management, and discuss conservation in the developing world.

Wildlife Safari and Maasai Village

Days 9-13

Head into the Maasai Steppe, where, at the invitation of Maasai tribal leaders, we’ll stay a night in a traditional boma settlement—a group of mud huts ringed by thorns to keep away predators. We’ll get to know the customs of the Maasai, witness drumming and jumping contests, and learn about their pastoral lifestyle. Join our Maasai hosts for a hike in the Oldonyo Sambu Wilderness Area, where we’ll see impalas, gazelles, and giraffes and learn to identify wildlife scat and tracks.

Then set out on safari in three incredible— and very different—wildlife parks. In the low woodlands of Tarangire National Park, watch elephant families interact, look for tree-climbing leopards and lions, and spot a myriad of bird species. Ride across the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, home to zebras, cheetahs, hippos, and rare rhinos. Finally, descend the Rift Valley escarpment to Lake Manyara, where vast colonies of flamingos often turn the lakeshore pink. In each park, talk with our safari guides about successes and challenges in addressing human-wildlife conflict, and learn how animal behavior and migrations are being affected by climate change.

ARUSHA

Days 14-15

We’ll spend our last two days at an eco-lodge near Arusha. Visit an organic coffee farm and see the sustainable production process— from harvest to market. We’ll have a farewell celebration before flying home.

Accommodations

In our host village, girls and boys bunk separately in dormitory-style housing with shared bathrooms and a group kitchen. We work in teams to help prepare meals. In the Maasai tribal lands and on safari, we stay in tented camps.

Dates & Tuition

July 16 – July 30, 2017

$6,690

Airfare is not included. We have arranged a round-trip group flight between New York and Arusha. Click here for information on transportation to and from expeditions.

Apply now for this program or call us for more information at 877-877-8759.

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